Coin dispenser



Fb: 5; 1963 M. A. WEISZ 3,076,466

COIN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Shetgl Filed March 30, 1960 INVENTOR MATTHIAS A. WEISZ BY ATTORNEY.

Feb. 5, 1963 M. A. WEISZ 3,0

COIN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1960 FIG. 9.

United States Patent executrix of Matthias A. Weisz, deceased, asaiguor to Pallisades Products Corp., Palisades Park, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 18,657 Claims. Cl. 133-4) The present invention relates to coin dispensers to be used either in connection with trays for dashboards of automotive vehicles or as a separate unit.

Coin dispensers have been proposed before, which are of substantially tubular shape and which receive the coins in superposed position, the dispenser being designed in such a manner that the lowermost of the stored coins is removable from the dispenser. This type of dispenser does not lend itself, however, to be combined with a tray for dashboards of automotive vehicles, which tray is disclosed in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 1,511, filed January 11, 1960, issued under Patent No. 2,988,410, dated June 13, 1961.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a coin dispenser which comprises two substantially vertically disposed plates spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance to define a horizontal slot therebetween of a width which is slightly greater than the thickness of conventional coins. Slide means are inserted into said slot, which slide means are adapted to move the coins laterally in the slot and to lift one of the coins inserted in the slot, upon movement of the slide, out of the slot. It is to be understood that more than two plates may be provided in the same manner to provided a plurality of slots, each of which has a slide for movement of the coins in the corresponding slot.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin dispenser comprising at least two substantially vertically disposed plates disposed spaced apart from each other to define a horizontal slot therebetween and wherein a slide is inserted which is of substantially L- shaped configuration to be inserted for longitudinal, hori zontal sliding in the slot and which slide is equipped at least on one of its end faces with a cam surface to facilitate the lifting of the adjacent coin upon moving the slide towards the, coin.

It is still another object of the present vide a coin dispenser which comprises stanti-ally vertically disposed plates spaced apart from each other to define a horizontal slot therebetween, and which are equipped with a plurality of top recesses spaced apart from each other and aligned in each pair of oppositely disposed plates, the distance between the bottom of the slot and the lowermost point of said recess being chosen of a length so that any coins inserted into the slot extend above the recess to provide the possibility to grip the coins with one hand from the slot.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a coin dispenser which comprises at least two substantially vertically disposed plates spaced apart from each other to define a horizontal slot therebetween, said slot having an opening of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of a conventional coin at one end of its bottom, so that the last of the coins nearest to the opening can fall through upon moving the coins in the slot towards the opening. It is preferred to secure a forwardly projecting tray below the opening to the coin dispenser to receive the coins removed from the slot.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a coin dispenser which comprises at least two substantially vertically disposed plates spaced apart from each other to define a horizontal slot and a slide moving horizontally in said slot to push laterally the coins ininvention to proa least two subice serted in the slot, the bottom face of said slot having at one end a concave-shaped cam face to lift the last coin moved in the slot by the slide into a raised position, one end face of the slide having a configuration complementary to the cam of the bottom face of the slot.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide a coin dispenser which comprises at least two substantially vertically disposed plates spaced apart from each other to define a horizontal slot and a slide moving horizontally in said slot to push laterally the coin-s inserted in said slot, and said slide has adjacent its upper edge a projection extending in the plane of the slot to operate as locking means for the raised coin adjacent the slide and to prevent that the other coins in the slot are removed upon further pushing tne slide, until the coin adjacent thereto is removed.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tray for dashboards of motor vehicles, the front portion of said tray being formed as a coin dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the coin dispenser;

FIG. 2a is an elevation of another embodiment of the slide;

FIG. 3 is a section along the lines an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the coin dispenser, formed as an independent body;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a coin dispenser;

FIG. 6 is a section along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a third embodiment of a coin dispenser;

FIG.'8 is a fragmentary top plan view showing part of the coin dispenser disclosed in FIG. 7 in combination with a tray;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the coin dispenser disclosed in FIG. 2, having, however, there coin slots disposed behind each other;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view'of the coin dispenser disclosed in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a section along 10;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of a fourth of the coin dispenser;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the coin dispenser disclosed in FIG. 12 at a reduced scale; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary front elevation of a fifth embodiment of the coin dispenser, a portion being broken away for better showing.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 3, the coin dispenser comprises a tray 1 which may consist of a metal base having on its top face a layer of plastic, leather or the like, at least the front end of'which metal base consists of two plates 2, 3 (FIG. 3) which are bent at their front end for an angle of about to extend upwardly to form the vertical portions 4, 5 in such manner that they are spaced apart from each other to define a slot 6 therebetween.-

The tray 1 has lateral end portions 6 which are vertically removable in order to permit the lateral insertion of a slide 7 into the slot 6. The end portions 6 of the tray 1 are secured to the front vertical plate portion 5, so that upon applying the end portions 6 to the tray 1, they function simultaneously as closing means for the slot 6 and as abutment means during movement of the slide 7.

The slide 7, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, comprises an L-shaped member, the horizontal leg 8 of which slides between the horizontally disposed plates 2 and 3, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, while 33 of FIG. 1 at of a second embodiment the lines 11-11 of FIG.

embodiment the vertical leg of which slides between the vertical portions 4 and 5. In order to provide space for the horizontal leg portion 8 of the L-shaped member, the most forward portion of the plate 2 is slightly raised to define a space between the plates 2 and 3 to receive said horizontal leg portion 8 of the L-shaped member. The vertical leg portion 8 of the L-shaped member is narrow at its top end (see FIG. 2) and widens towards the lower end to form a curved or cam portion therebetween which has the function to operate as a cam for lifting the coins 13 disposed adjacent the vertical leg portion 8 of the L- shaped member. A pin 9 extends from the vertical leg portion of the L-shaped member 7 over the top of the vertical plate portion in forward direction, to receive at its forward end a gripping member If). Upon gripping the gripping member with at least one finger of one hand, a lateral movement of the slide 7 is made possible and if the slide 7 is moved towards the left, as shown in tion permits a one-hand operation. This is important if the dispenser is used in combination with a tray for the dashboard of automotive vehicles, because it is necessary to have one hand on the wheel, while dispensing a coin from the dispenser with the other hand, for instance for paying atoll on a highway.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is preferred to divide the slot 6 into three different zones, for instance for the purpose to provide in the first zone quarters, in the second or center zone dimes and in the third zone nickels.

7 as well as for the coins 13.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the same arrangement is made for this embodiment as disclosed in the embodiment of slot 6' therebetween, so that the plates 4' and 5' jointly with a bottom are of U-cross-section and the housing is closed up at the end portions by an end member 6* The slide 7' moves horizontally in the slot 6 in the same manner as disclosed in connection with the embodiment shown The coins 13' are inserted in vertical position in the slot adjacent each other, and upon moving of the slide 7' which has again a cam-shaped end face, the latter lifts the adjacent coin 13' upon engagement with said cam-shaped end face.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is quite apparent that the front plates 4 and 5 form again a housing which is closed up at the side by the end member 6. however, the slide 7 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings has the pin 9 riding on the top edge of the plate 5, an intermediate horizontal slot 14 is arranged in the front plate 5 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 through which slot 14 the pin 9 extends for horizontal movement, the front end of the pin 9 being secured to the gripping member 10 Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it is apparent that the slide, but merely comprises at least one pair of front and rear plates 4 and 5 which are forming again part of the tray 1 Both the front and the rear plates 4 and 5 have a plurality of upper recesses aligned relative to each other, so that upon inserting of coins 13 into the slot 6 each one of the coins 13 may be easily gripped merely by lifting the same out, access being provided for such gripping by the recesses on the plates 4 and 5 The plates 4 and 5 are closed up at the sides by the end members 6 Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 14 of the drawings, it will be readily seen that three embodiments are disclosed therein which provide a plurality or slots disposed one behind Referring now particularly to FIGS. 9 to 11, this embodiment is substantially identical with that disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, with the exception that instead of providing two oppositely disposed plates 4 and 5 to define a single slot, now a plurality of plates is provided and the plates are disposed behind each other, defining three slots between the four plates arranged therein. It can, thus, be readily seen that the plates 4', 5, 4 and 5 are disposed in parallel arrangement behind each other and are properly inserted into a base 15 which receives the rearwardly bent bottom portions of each of the plates d 5, 4 and 5 in complementary recesses provided therein, in order to retain the plates in operative position. The base 15 and the plates are disposed jointly in a housing 16, the side walls or side members 17 of which have pivoted thereto a cover 18. A slide 9* is inserted in each of the slots 6, 6, and 6 Each of the slides 9* has also a gripping member 10 in an arrangement equivalent to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The operation and function of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is identical with that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, with the exception that instead of the provision of ranged one behind the other.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, it will be readily seen that this embodiment is substantially similar to that disclosed in FIGS. 9 to 11, since again four plates are provided, namely the plates 4*, 5, 4 and 5 disposed parallel to and spaced apart from each other to define the three slots in the same manner as shown in FIG. 11. Instead, however, showing the slide with a cam surface engaging the coin, the slide 9, having again a gripping member 10, has a left straight end face for engagement with the to the housing 16. The structure disclosed in FIG. 12 is, however, capable to operate in the same manner as that shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. If by error a coin is inserted into any one of the slots on the right side of the slide 9, there would be no possibility to move the coin 13 to fall through the opening 20. In order to provide for this possibility, the slide 9 is provided here on the right end face with a cam formation which engages the coin to the right of the slide 9 and upon moving the slide 9 towards the right, the coin is again lifted to operate in the projection 22 extending from the end wall 17 moves in the opening 20 inwardly and outwardly, respectively, to block the release of a coin 13 through the opening 20 and to permit such release, respectively. The upper portion of the side wall has in addition a small recess 23. In

tion to prevent the undesirable release of any coins. The vertical leg of the projection 22 moves in the slot 20, the left end of which limits the outward movement of the projection 22 and, thereby, of the end wall 17. The cover 18, when in closed position, enters with its pin 24 into the recess 23 and thereby also locks the cover in the closed position. By this arrangement, it is impossible that coins are released through the opening 20 of any one of the slots when not desired.

Referring now finally to FIG. 14, this figure discloses an embodiment substantially identical with that shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, respectively, with the exception, however, that the slots have at their end their bottom face cam shaped, so that upon pushing a coin 13 by the slide 9 having a gripping member the coin is raised above the slot and may then be gripped with two fingers. Preferably again three slots are provided in this embodiment and in order to be in position to push the slide 9 as close as possible to the end of each of the slots, its left end face, as shown in FIG. 14, is of a cam shape complementary to the cam face of the bottom of each of the slots.

In a preferred structure, the bottom face of each of the slots which has a cam shaped end face in upward direction, leads into a raised bottom face which has a small recess complementary to the diameter of a coin to provide a rest position for any coin reaching the end position. In this rest position the coin will be raised out of the slot, so that it may be gripped with two fingers of one hand, and thus may easily be removed.

It is now quite apparent that the coin dispenser may be used in combination with a tray mounted on the dashboard of an automotive vehicle or as a separate unit either for the dashboard of automotive vehicles, or in any other applications, as for instance for playing any games or any other similar purposes, in which case the entire unit may be placed on a game table.

Referring now to FIG. 2a of the drawings, another embodiment of the slide '7 is disclosed which includes locking means for the coin to be removed from the slot, which coin is disposed adjacent the slide 7 In particular, the locking means comprises a projection 'l' extending from the upper portion of the slide 7 into the plane of the slot, so that a coin is raised by the lower cam portion of the slide until it engages the projection 7*, so that the raised coin is clamped between the lateral cam portion of the slide 7, its projection 7 and the next adjacent coin 13 simultaneously locking the next coin in the slot from rising therefrom, as clearly indicated in FIG. 2a.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

I claim:

1. A coin dispenser comprising a housing including at least one pair of upwardly extending parallel plates spaced apart at a distance substantially equivalent to the thickness of a coin to define a substantially vertical slot as well as an end plate closing the end of said vertical slot and limiting the longitudinal movement of said coins in said slot, a pair of horizontal parallel plates, at least a part length of said horizontal plates being spaced apart from each other to define a substantially horizontal slot continued into said vertical slot, said vertical slot receiving coins inserted therein to form a single line of said coins in a periphery engaging position, a slide disposed and movable longitudinally in said vertical and horizontal slots and having a cam face for engagement with the adjacent coin, a gripping member connected with said slide and adapted to provide a grip for said slide for longitudinal movement in said slots, so that upon pushing said slide in said slot in longitudinal direction towards the adjacent coin, the latter is raised out of said slot.

2. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slide comprises an L-shaped member having a vertically disposed leg portion moving in said vertical slot and a horizontally disposed leg portion moving in said horizontal slot and extending laterally at an angle to the direction of movement of said slide to retain the latter in said slot, a pin projecting forwardly from said vertically disposed leg portion of said L-shaped member, and said gripping member carried by the front end of said pin and moving with said slide outside thereof in front of one of said plates.

3. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pin rides on top of one of said plates during the horizontal movement of said slide.

4. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 2, wherein one of said plates disposed at the front of said dispenser defines a second horizontally disposed slot intermediate its top and bottom edges, and said pin extends through said second horizontally disposed slot.

5. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom face of said vertical slot has an opening of a length slightly longer than the diameter of the coin to be inserted in said vertical slot, so that upon moving said coins in said vertical slot by said slide, the last of said coins will be removed from said vertical slot through said opening.

6. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 5, which includes a tray disposed below said opening and secured to said dispenser to receive the coins falling through said opening.

7. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom face of said vertical slot is substantially horizontal over the greater part of its length and has a rising portion towards one of its ends, and said rising portion permitting removal of said coins by causing a lifting of the last of the coins from said vertical slot.

8. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said rising portion of the bottom face of said slot has a substantially horizontal raised end portion defining a recess of a curvature substantially complementary to the curvature of said coin, to form a raised resting position,- for said coin.

9. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slide includes means for locking at least the coin engaged by said locking means.

10. The coin dispenser, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said locking means comprises a projection extending substantially in the plane of said slot from the top portion of said slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 824,842 Brandt July 3, 1906 2,122,024 Chouinard June 28, 1938 2,246,431 Cochran June 17, 1941 2,428,997 Seltzer Oct. 14, 1947 

1. A COIN DISPENSER COMPRISING A HOUSING INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF UPWARDLY EXTENDING PARALLEL PLATES SPACED APART AT A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO THE THICKNESS OF A COIN TO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SLOT AS WELL AS AN END PLATE CLOSING THE END OF SAID VERTICAL SLOT AND LIMITING THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID COINS IN SAID SLOT, A PAIR OF HORIZONTAL PARALLEL PLATES, AT LEAST A PART LENGTH OF SAID HORIZONTAL PLATES BEING SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER TO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SLOT CONTINUED INTO SAID VERTICAL SLOT, SAID VERTICAL SLOT RECEIVING COINS INSERTED THEREIN TO FORM A SINGLE LINE OF SAID COINS IN A PERIPHERY ENGAGING POSITION, A SLIDE DISPOSED AND 